How a love of good food, a little science and a lot of patience became The Cape Truffle Company.
Truffles are among the most sought-after ingredients in the world, yet wild European harvests have fallen dramatically over the last century as habitats have been lost and the climate has changed.
In 2018 we set out to grow our own. We bought a 54-hectare site in the Cape, where cold winters and warm, dry summers closely mirror the Périgord region of France, the truffle’s spiritual home.
Today we own and manage established truffle orchards in the region, and our ambition is to become the leading truffle grower and truffle-infused product retailer in South Africa and the UK.
A truffle grows underground, in partnership with the roots of its host tree. Growing them means first persuading the truffle to take hold, and then waiting.
Our trees were inoculated with live truffle spores in the laboratory by Mycorrhizal Systems, world leaders in truffle cultivation.
Each young tree is cultivated for a year before planting, then cared for in orchards irrigated tree by tree.
It takes five to ten years from planting to the first truffle, which is why established orchards are so valuable.
When the season comes, trained dogs sniff out each ripe truffle beneath the soil, and every one is lifted by hand.
Every truffle is cleaned, weighed and graded for size, aroma and quality.
The finest go fresh to chefs and markets. The rest, well, they are the hero in our own collection of truffle-infused products.
Truffle-infused products have moved from fine dining to everyday kitchens, yet few brands tell you where their truffles were grown. We want to change that.
Alongside a team of experts who have launched successful food and drink brands in the UK and around the world, we’re creating a range of farm-to-fork truffle products for your kitchen, and for restaurants and bars.
And it doesn’t stop at food. Truffles are rich in fatty acids and peptides that hydrate and protect the skin, so we’re working with a renowned UK skincare scientist on products for the beauty market too.
See what’s coming
We want to create lasting value not only for our customers, but for the land and the communities around our farms.
Our orchards are cultivated on organic principles, free from synthetic pesticides and fertilisers, protecting the soil, water and surrounding ecosystems.
Truffle orchards are inherently regenerative. Our trees store carbon, improve soil health and support local biodiversity.
Solar-powered pumps and efficient irrigation keep our water and energy use to a minimum.
We support local schools with resources, mentoring and farm visits, pay fair, above-market wages, and buy locally wherever we can.
Solar-powered irrigation
Chief Truffle Officer
Edward is the driving force behind The Cape Truffle Company. He began his career advising some of the UK’s biggest food and hospitality companies before building businesses of his own in hospitality, property and financial services. An accomplished cook and passionate foodie, he promises a Cape Truffle Company cookbook won’t be far away.
Chief Truffle Counter
Most companies have a bean counter. We grow truffles, so Tom is our truffle counter. He has spent twenty years as a finance director in hospitality, including eight years as CFO of Rosa’s Thai Café, and co-founded TipJar, now Europe’s largest provider of cashless tipping.
Truffle Guru
Everyone needs a guru, and Paul is ours. He is part of the family behind Woodford Truffles, one of South Africa’s largest commercial truffle operations, and advises truffle farmers across the country, bringing proven, hands-on expertise to our orchards every day.
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